Winners and Highly Commended Nominees of the National Children and Young People Awards 2026 Announced

The Employer Award – North

We are Juno CIC

As a not-for-profit organisation they are a unique independent provider. At the heart of what they do is the inclusivity of care experienced employees and this drives the value demonstrated by all their care team members. They have demonstrated that the child is at the centre of their support, not only whilst they are with the homes, but giving them the tools, guidance and supporting them in building loving relationships to help them thrive in the future. This leads to a greater value and recognition in the care team and gives them an opportunity to strengthen ties in the community leading to lasting change.

New Horizons NW

A well-established, organisation-wide strategy that consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting and recognising both employees and children. Embedded across the organisation for several years, this approach reflects a sustained dedication to inclusion, wellbeing and creating a positive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

The Employer Award – South
Silver Birch Care Holdings Limited

This team has an outstanding commitment to the employees, children, young people and families they support. Through strong leadership, a focus on continuous improvement and a dedication to high-quality care, they have created a positive environment where staff feel supported and excellent outcomes are prioritised.

Thrive Support Services Ltd

This award celebrates an exceptional employer whose vision, innovation and commitment empower employees to deliver outstanding care. Through strong leadership, entrepreneurial flair and a sustained focus on quality and improvement, they create a supportive environment where staff thrive and children, young people and families receive the best possible outcomes.

The Employer Award – Central
Hand in Hand Childcare Ltd

Hand in Hand Childcare have created a nurturing, family-focused culture where staff feel supported, valued and invested in. Their commitment to developing people, promoting from within and embedding therapeutic, relationship-based practice has created a resilient team that delivers consistent care and meaningful outcomes for children and young people.

WiNurture Childcare

WiNurture Childcare stands out as an employer through its inclusive, close-knit culture where individuality is celebrated and people genuinely feel they belong. By investing in staff, developing talent from within and maintaining strong, supportive relationships, they have created a stable and committed workforce that makes a lasting difference to children and young people.

The Newcomer Award
Ashley Smith, Heycroft Care Group

Ashley showed a real passion for his role the young person he currently supports. All of Ashley’s answers were tailored around the YP and not himself. It is clear to see Ashley has a real passion and dedication to supporting young people and their journeys.

Chloe Ulrico, Thrive Support Services Ltd

Chloe is deeply passionate about her journey from being a young person supported by the company to returning as a member of staff after turning 18. Her work is meaningful, allowing her to now support other young people, drawing on her own experiences to make a positive difference. Her dedication, resilience and commitment to helping others shine through, making her a truly inspiring and deserving winner of the Newcomer Award.

The Administrator Award 

Jane Jackson, Salutem Care and Education

Jane brought calm and reassurance during a very difficult and unsettled time. She rebuilt trust with managers, staff and children, took pressure away from the homes and supported managers with recruitment, safeguarding concerns and securing funding for additional staffing. Her support also contributed to a home improving from requires improvement to good, which had a really positive impact on everyone’s morale. She is personable, passionate and clearly cares about the people and services she supports.

Maiya Francis Gray, I.M.P.A.C.T. CRC

Maiya to stepped up when her organisation was in a very difficult position and took responsibility for putting important HR and safeguarding systems right. She clearly understands that good administration directly protects children, but what stood out most was her genuine care and commitment.  She has used personal experience to strengthen her understanding of young people and encourage them to believe they can change their lives. She goes above and beyond her role, supports both staff and children and has made a real difference to the organisation.

The Leaving Care Award

Carly Cherriman, 5ab Care

Carly provides a consistent safety net, ensuring young people are not simply moved on before they are ready. She carefully considers individual needs and best interests, advocating for additional time and support where needed so each young person feels genuinely ready and secure.

Sebastian Moore, HM Treasury

Sebastian is turning care experience into a catalyst for national change—shaping policy, influencing business and challenging society to recognise care leavers in every decision. Their legacy will be a fundamental shift in how organisations understand, include and invest in care leavers, creating opportunities that can transform lives for generations.

The Support Worker Award (North)
Mary Lawson, Cheery Blossom Supported Living

Mary has compassion, dedication and commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care. Through their advocacy, collaborative approach and unwavering support, they help children, young people and families feel heard, valued and empowered, making a meaningful difference to their lives and inspiring those around them.

Callum Hall, A-Triangle

Callum is an exceptional support worker whose compassion, dedication and person-centred approach make a lasting difference to children, young people and families. Through outstanding advocacy, teamwork and unwavering commitment, they ensure every individual feels valued, heard and supported, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.

The Support Worker Award (South)
Lisa Guy, Next Wave Care Group

Lisa understands that consistently showing up for young people, especially during difficult times, builds trust, safety and lasting relationships. Her reliability gives young people confidence in themselves, their relationships and their future, laying strong foundations for positive change.

Samson Oloyede, MJM Care Group

Samson is a valued team member who brings genuine passion and commitment to his work. He builds trusting relationships, looks beyond challenges to recognise strengths, and works collaboratively to remove barriers, helping every young person reach their potential and achieve the best possible outcomes.

The Children’s Home Manager Award (North)
Charlotte Tipper, Onextra Care Ltd

Charlotte is a truly exceptional leader who’s compassionate, trauma-informed approach transforms young people’s lives. By looking beyond behaviour, nurturing relationships and empowering her team, she creates a therapeutic environment where children feel safe, understood and valued. Her dedication, insight and inspirational leadership are admirable. 

Nina Howarth, We are Juno CIC

Nina is an inspirational leader who puts children at the heart of everything she does. Through her therapeutic vision, exceptional teamwork and innovative approach, she creates joyful, healing homes where children thrive. Her dedication extends beyond her own service, developing staff and sharing best practice to improve care across the sector.

The Children’s Home Manager Award (South)
Lisa Marie Carr, Created to Care

Lisa Marie Carr is a values-led manager who believes leadership is service, creating a nurturing culture where staff feel valued, supported and empowered. Their commitment to learning and developing future leaders drives great care. They are dedicated to safeguarding, enriching and positively impacting the lives of their young people.

Janice Fish, Compass Children’s Homes

Janice’s genuine love for the children shines through in everything she does. She leads with warmth, nurture and unwavering commitment, creating a home where children and staff feel valued and cared for and build lasting relationships. From baking birthday cakes and cooking home-cooked meals to serving and developing her team, Janice truly embodies an exceptional Registered Manager. 

The Children’s Home Manager Award (Central)
Joel Davies-Barrass, LM Care Homes Ltd

Joel is an outstanding manager whose child-centred leadership has made a real difference. From opening a successful home, achieving a GOOD Ofsted rating within six months, to supporting a young person towards greater independence, Joel’s dedication to children, his team and their futures shines through.

Ellie Twaites, Esland Ltd

Ellie demonstrates exceptional leadership, setting high aspirations for children and continually improving the quality of care. By celebrating achievements, empowering her staff and building strong professional partnerships, she creates a nurturing environment where children feel valued, make outstanding progress and have every opportunity to thrive.

Kerrie Moore, Watermead Care Ltd

Kerrie is an exceptional leader whose trauma-informed, compassionate approach transforms children’s lives. Through her unwavering advocacy, emotional intelligence and commitment to stability, she creates a home where children feel safe, loved and able to thrive. Her outstanding leadership empowers her team and gives children hope for brighter futures.

The Frontline Leader Award
Youlan Lamontagne, Bess Solutions ltd

Youlan is an exceptional advocate for young people, leading with authenticity, insight and a deep commitment to inclusive practice. He challenges assumptions, promotes meaningful participation and inspires those around him to see potential where others may see barriers. His thoughtful leadership has had a lasting impact on both colleagues and children alike.

Claire Marshall, Benecare

Claire is an inspiring leader who consistently drives high standards across her service through innovation, accountability and a people-centred approach. She empowers her team to achieve excellence, encourages continuous learning and leads with integrity. Her ability to navigate challenges while maintaining exceptional care provision makes her a deserving recipient of this recognition.

Abi Grabecki, Future Chapter Care

Abi is a highly compassionate and dedicated leader whose commitment to both young people and staff is evident in every aspect of her work. Through her supportive leadership style, strong relationship building skills and unwavering focus on achieving positive outcomes, she creates an environment where children feel safe, valued and able to thrive. Her passion for helping young people overcome adversity, combined with her commitment to staff development and wellbeing, makes her an outstanding role model within residential childcare.

The Registered Service Manager Award (Supported Accommodation)
Kayleigh Morrison, Pathway Homes

Kayleigh has exceptional knowledge, leadership and a deeply child-centred, therapeutic approach. She champions young people’s voices, creates truly individualised support, and challenges practice to achieve better outcomes. Her relational leadership, innovative training and reflective practice empower teams while transforming opportunities for young people with complex needs.

Lucy Evans, Adullam Housing and Support

Lucy is the winner for transforming culture, quality and practice while keeping young people at the heart of every decision. Her leadership empowers staff, strengthens confidence and ensures young people feel heard, safe and valued. Through co-production, persistence and measurable support, she creates environments where young people genuinely thrive and gain independence.

The Senior Manager Award
Jackie Smeeth, Highlands Group

Jackie is an inspiring leader with a strategic vision and dedication to high-quality, child-centred care. Through empowering colleagues, championing inclusion and responding to the evolving needs of children and young people, they make a meaningful difference, helping teams deliver compassionate, responsive support that enables every child to thrive.

Maria Walters, AMMA Childcare Services

Maria is an outstanding senior leader whose vision, compassion and strategic expertise drive excellence in child-centred care. Through inspiring teams, championing inclusion and embracing innovation, they ensure services evolve to meet every child’s needs, empowering children and young people to thrive and reach their potential.

The Children’s Home Team Award (North)
The Dunes Team, New Horizons NW

This team demonstrates a genuine family mentality, building strong relationships with each other and the children they support. Their commitment to communication, teamwork and continuous improvement creates a happy, stable environment. With long-standing staff, strong progression and children who feel secure and want to stay, their positive impact is clear.

The Primrose Team, Thrive Residential Care ltd

This team creates a true family, embracing different ages, cultures and perspectives while putting young people at the heart of everything they do. Their teamwork, reliability and commitment have transformed lives, creating stability and lasting relationships. Always learning, listening and improving, they demonstrate that with time, care and dedication, meaningful change is possible.

The Children’s Home Team Award (South)
Alanna Alston & Team Bluebell Cottage, PBS Care Ltd

Alanna Alston and the team at Bluebell Cottage have created an exceptional therapeutic home where children are truly at the heart of everything they do. Through unwavering dedication, strong leadership, and a commitment to positive outcomes, they empower young people to thrive, achieve independence, and build brighter futures.

Roseview Team, Sevahomes Children’s Homes

The Roseview Team has created a warm, therapeutic, and family-centred environment where children can feel safe, valued, and supported to thrive. Through reflective practice, compassionate leadership, and unwavering commitment, they consistently achieve positive outcomes, demonstrating resilience, teamwork, and a genuine passion for transforming the lives of young people.

The Children’s Home Team Award (Central)
The Elms family, Lantern Care Homes

Kirsty told me all about the team and their shared vision to model positive relationships to their young people. They work together to ensure that they get the best results possible. Kirsty talked about the support she gets from her manager and described her as “not like anyone else I’ve ever worked for.”

Burtone House, Homes2Inspire

Listening to Rebecca talk about how she built the home based on feedback and experience she has had previously and the team that she has developed was inspiring. She discussed their short term placements and how the team have to get to know their young people very quickly and put together plans to support them over the 3 month period. Rebecca talked about the support and training that her and the team receive from the organisation.

The Foster Carer Award
Sandra Cornwall, TACT – The Adolescent and Children’s Trust

Such a fantastic woman who has helped and supported the lives of so many children over the years within her career. Sandra was a delight to listen to and the smile on her face throughout was a ray of sunshine considering the difficult challenges she has faced over the years with so many children. 

Jon and Ellen Evans, TACT – The Adolescent and Children’s Trust

They are unbelievably committed to the child that they currently have placed with them-  nothing is to big or too small for them to achieve. They have impacted the life of their foster child significantly, not only for being there, but ensuring his survival, health needs are being met and achieving outcomes that people did not think were possible, such as a holiday. What a fantastic family with such a positive outlook on life despite all the challenges they have faced. 

The Biggest Impact Award (Individual)
James Melton-Royal, JMR Healthcare

At just 24, James founded JMR Healthcare to support young people with highly complex needs who are often turned away by other providers. Through exceptional compassion, leadership, and relationship-based care, he has transformed countless lives, by helping young people achieve stability, reunite with their families and build a brighter future, exemplifying his life-changing impact.

Jordan Stephen, AMMA Childcare Services

Jordan’s impact goes far beyond professional achievement. He leads with kindness, humility and an unwavering commitment to the young people in his care, ensuring they feel seen, heard and valued. Through trust, compassion and genuine belief in their potential, he helps vulnerable children build brighter, more hopeful futures.

The Biggest Impact Award (Team)
Together Champions, Cafcass

This team has transformed the way children and young people experience and engage with family court proceedings by placing their voice at the heart of every decision. Through innovative tools including child-friendly apps, storyboards, animations and personalised introductions, they have made complex processes more accessible, helping children feel heard, understood and empowered to share their experiences in ways that work for them. Their approach strengthens assessments and court recommendations, improves safeguarding outcomes, and ensures children can better understand and make sense of the decisions that affect their lives. By listening to feedback and continually adapting their practice, the team has created a culture where children’s voices genuinely influence services, leading to greater engagement, improved wellbeing and more positive long-term outcomes. 

Fair Ways RiiSE Trauma-based Practice, Fair Ways CBS Ltd

This team has transformed outcomes for children and young people by creating a culture where staff feel valued and empowered to deliver exceptional, trauma-informed care. Through relationship-based practice, they have reduced restrictive interventions, increased stability, and helped young people build self-worth, resilience and belonging. Their trusted support enables children to thrive, engage positively in their communities, and achieve their full potential.

The Safeguarding of Children Award
Maple View Team, WiNurture Childcare

An exceptional team whose determination to safeguard extends beyond their own home. Through trust, vigilance and courageous action, they uncovered serious exploitation affecting children across their community. Despite being newly established, they worked tirelessly with families, police and professionals, going above and beyond to protect young people while championing their futures.

Lynette Ranson, Positive Directions

A true pioneer in safeguarding, she has dedicated 40 years to protecting and improving children’s lives. From shaping national practice to pioneering Positive Directions, her courageous, trauma-informed approach puts children at the heart of safeguarding. Her commitment to early intervention has transformed outcomes for hundreds of vulnerable children and created a lasting legacy.

The Children with Disabilities Award
Crownhills Children’s Home, Haven Care Group

A truly inspirational home, dedicated to helping every child achieve their full potential, both during their time in care and beyond. Their commitment to creating brighter futures extends beyond their own home, making a positive and lasting difference across the wider children in the care community.

Disabled Children’s Teams, Barnsley Council

A truly outstanding team whose shared passion and commitment shone through in every conversation. Their genuine care for children and families, alongside their collaborative approach and dedication to helping everyone thrive, makes them thoroughly deserving winners.

The Wellbeing Award
Lucy Pearce, Fair Ways CBS Ltd

Her commitment to supporting both young people and staff is truly inspiring. Through effective training and practical strategies, she has empowered staff to grow in confidence and provide exceptional support. Her dedication has helped create an incredible, compassionate team and, most importantly, an environment where children and young people can truly thrive.

Manchester Wellbeing Group, Kids Charity

Kerry and Manchester Wellbeing group is a truly deserving winner of the Wellbeing Award. Providing a vital bridge for young people with complex needs at a crucial time in their lives, they offer a safe, supportive community for those with complex needs. The passion, dedication and genuine care shown by Kerry the team is inspiring to see.

The Partnership Working Award
Vicki Beevers, Sean Harris, Andy Peers, The Sleep Charity, Tees Valley Education, Zarach

This innovative partnership brings together education, specialist sleep expertise and practical support to tackle sleep inequality and bed poverty. Their joined-up approach has improved children’s sleep, attendance and engagement with education, while strengthening relationships with families and creating a model with the potential to influence practice and policy far beyond Middlesbrough.

AHP Team, Positive Directions Trauma Vanguard for Children and Young People

Kayleigh and Lauren demonstrated exceptional partnership working by putting young people at the centre of every decision. Their flexible, trauma-informed approach brings health, social care and education together, helping young people feel heard, overcome significant barriers and achieve meaningful change across education, family relationships, wellbeing and their aspirations for the future.

B.E.S.T Project LTD

Demonstrated outstanding partnership working, creating a genuinely collaborative model with West Sussex that is improving local residential provision and outcomes for children. Their determination to prevent placement breakdowns, keep children connected to their communities and create safe pathways back to family life made BEST Project a truly deserving winner.

The Children’s Champion Award

Dr Natalie Bennett, Witherslack Group

Natalie has turned children’s voices into meaningful change, creating policies shaped by the young people themselves so they truly feel heard and valued. Her passion has transformed practice across the service, influenced her schools and helped homes achieve Outstanding Ofsted ratings, always ensuring children remain at the heart of every decision.

Lee Weston, Believe & Achieve CIC

Drawing on his own lived experiences, Lee has turned life’s challenges into a passion for helping young people feel seen, heard and understood. He stands beside them through their hardest moments, offering hope without judgement. For Lee, it’s never just a job it’s about ensuring every young person knows they matter.

The Children and Families Social Worker Award
John Neacsu, Buckinghamshire Council

John is a compassionate and highly reflective social worker whose 22 years of experience have made a lasting difference to vulnerable children and families. Through empathy, persistence and relationship-based practice, he empowers young people to find their voice, while inspiring future social workers through mentorship, leadership and role modelling.

Angela Carter, Cafcass

Angela’s lived experience, compassion and unwavering commitment to children shine through her practice. She ensures young people’s voices are heard, even in the most complex circumstances, and advocates tirelessly for their safety and wellbeing. Through resilience, empathy and determination, she has transformed lives and achieved lasting positive outcomes.

The Supported Accommodation Award
Avensis Support 

Avensis Support has delivered exceptional, trauma-informed care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children for six years. Through empowering young people to shape services, influence national practice and build community connections, they champion belonging, resilience and aspiration, helping young people overcome adversity and transition successfully into independent adulthood.

Hardip Kaur Basra, Dream Big Living LTD

This award recognises an exceptional leader who goes above and beyond to transform young people’s lives. By securing driving lessons and creating pathways towards a firefighting career for a young asylum seeker, she turned barriers into opportunities, empowering him with confidence, independence and ambition for a brighter future.

The Young Carer Award
Aria Minnikin, Independent 

Aria is an extraordinary young carer whose compassion, patience and unconditional love for her brother shine through every day. At just seven years old, she provides remarkable support, helping him feel safe, understood and included. Her kindness, resilience and dedication embody the very best of young carers everywhere.

Lily Carpenter, Independent 

Lily is an extraordinary young carer who, despite being just 11, has supported her mum since the age of four. Her kindness, resilience and selflessness shine through in everything she does, from caring for her mum to helping others in her community. Lily’s dedication and heart of gold truly deserve recognition.

The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care

Marie Greenhalgh, Inclusion Education (Project Iris & Baton of Hope)

Marie’s work is rooted in love, care and hope. Drawing on her own experiences, she has dedicated 17 years to ensuring children feel safe, valued and that they truly belong. Through compassion, empathy and unwavering support, Marie gives young people hope during their darkest moments and belief in brighter futures.

Bridget Drew-Spyer, Next Step Independence

Bridget is an inspirational leader whose kindness, compassion and child-centred values shine through everything she does. She has transformed outcomes for young people, helping them build aspirations, independence and brighter futures. Through leading by example, developing her teams and challenging traditional approaches, Bridget has created nurturing homes where children truly thrive.